Television stand

ABSTRACT

A television stand includes a shelf made of a ferrous sheet metal that helps shield a television or other audio/video items from the magnetic field of a nearby center-channel speaker. Other features of the stand include an open design to promote natural, convective airflow that helps cool audio/video components; numerous parts sharing a common material thickness for ease of manufacture; infinitely repositionable center supports; combination cable collector and bumper; metal grain-like finish with a clear protective coating; shelves and side panels with integral flanges for stiffness and/or mounting purposes; and the use of acorn nuts for not only fastening, but also for helping to prevent the television from being accidentally slid off the top shelf of the stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The subject invention generally pertains to furniture and morespecifically to a television stand.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The current trend in home entertainment centers is to emulatemore closely the effects provided by big screen movie theaters. Largerand heavier televisions are becoming more common, and their soundsystems are becoming more sophisticated.

[0005] Commercial movie theaters often have several speakers thatproject various channels of sound. Some speakers may be positioned nearthe front of the theater, off to the right and left side of the screen.Others, such as right and left side speakers, may be near the back ofthe theater to create what is known as surround-sound. Such speakers maycarry different channels of background sound to create various effects,such as a distant sound coming from a particular direction or atraveling source of sound.

[0006] In addition, commercial theaters often include a center-channelspeaker positioned directly behind the movie screen. The screen, then,is made of a material that allows the sound from the speaker to passright through the screen. Center-channel speakers typically carry thedialogue, so that the: voices seem to come directly from the projectedimage of the actors and actresses of the movie.

[0007] This same effect is more difficult to achieve at home with atelevision having an impermeable picture tube rather than a screen.Instead of mounting a center-channel speaker behind the tube, thespeaker is usually placed directly below the television, with the twobeing placed as close together as possible. Unfortunately, speakersoften have powerful magnets whose magnetic field, when too close to thetelevision, may distort the image on the set. Due to the magnetic field,the center-channel speaker may need to be placed farther away from thetelevision than what would otherwise be necessary, which diminishes thedesired illusion of having the sound come directly from the picture.

[0008] Also, when a large, heavy television is placed on a shelf withthe center-channel speaker beneath it, the reinforcing shelf structureneeded to support the weight of the television may further limit howclose the speaker and television can be placed. This is especially truewhen the shelf is made of wood, particleboard, or a similarly weakmaterial, because with weaker materials more structural support isneeded.

[0009] Television cabinets are also often used to store other audio andvideo related items, such radio receivers, amplifiers, and tape playersand their tapes. Wooden cabinets with relatively low thermalconductivity may promote overheating of certain electrical components,such as power amplifiers. And recorded information on tapes may getdamaged if the tape gets exposed to the magnetic field of thecenter-channel speaker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a shelf made ofmetal for providing strength without adding excessive bulk; as such bulkmay limit how close a center-channel speaker may be placed next to atelevision.

[0011] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a shelf made offerrous metal for magnetically shielding various audio/video equipmentfrom the magnetic field of a speaker.

[0012] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a shelf made ofmetal to promote the dissipation of heat away from various audio/videoequipment.

[0013] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a sanded metalsurface protected by a clear coating to give the stand a smoothgrain-like finish.

[0014] In some embodiments, a television stand is bolted together usingacorn nuts that protrude upward from a shelf to help prevent atelevision from sliding off the shelf upon being accidentally bumped.

[0015] In some embodiments, a television stand includes numerous sheetmetal parts of the same material thickness. This minimizes scrap, as thevarious parts can be efficiently arranged or nested among themselvesprior to cutting them from a single piece of sheet metal.

[0016] In some embodiments, a television stand includes numerous sheetmetal parts of the same material thickness to avoid having to adjust thesettings of a sanding machine.

[0017] In some embodiments, a television stand includes side panels withnumerous openings that promote natural airflow, which helps preventaudio/video components from overheating.

[0018] In some embodiments, a television stand has a hexagonal footprintwith beveled back comers that allow the stand to be selectively placedalongside a flat wall or tucked into a comer of a room.

[0019] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a centralsupport that is frictionally pressed between two shelves or between abase and an upper shelf. This renders the central support infinitelyrepositionable.

[0020] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a cable guardthat neatly manages a number of cables, so that only a relatively narrowback panel is needed to hide the cables.

[0021] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a cable guardthat not only manages a number of cables, but also serves as aprotective bumper that helps protect the cables from being crushedagainst a wall.

[0022] In some embodiments, a television stand includes a first upperside panel spaced apart from a first lower side panel with a middleshelf interposed therebetween, so that the middle shelf is clampedsolidly between the two side panels with a series of common bolts (i.e.,each bolt extends through all three parts: the middle shelf and the twoside panels).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a front view of a three-tier television stand supportingvarious audio/video items.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a back view of the stand of FIG. 1.

[0025]FIG. 3 is a right side view of the stand of FIG. 1, but alsoshowing an enlarged exploded view of a typical screw and nut beingassembled.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a top view of the stand in FIG. 1, but with the variousaudio/video items omitted.

[0027]FIG. 5 is a front view of the stand in FIG. 4.

[0028]FIG. 6 is a back view of the stand in FIG. 5.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the stand in FIG. 5.

[0030]FIG. 8 is the side view of the stand in FIG. 5.

[0031]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

[0032]FIG. 10 is front view of a two-tier television stand.

[0033]FIG. 11 is a side view of the stand of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0034] A television stand system 10, shown in FIGS. 1-3, includes astand 12 made of a ferrous sheet metal to effectively support,magnetically shield, and ventilate various audio/video components. Inthis example, stand 12 supports a television 14 and a center-channelspeaker 16. The term, “center-channel speaker” refers to any type ofspeaker having a magnetic field. Stand 12 may also support other items18 and 20, which are schematically illustrated to represent variousother audio/video components, examples of which include, but are notlimited to, a radio receiver, television, amplifier, tape player, CDplayer, DVD player, and magnetic tapes.

[0035] To facilitate its manufacture, reduce its cost, and enhance itsappearance, stand 12 is primarily comprised of formed sheet metalcomponents of a substantially common material thickness 22 (e.g., 10gage). In some embodiments, the components that have a similar materialthickness include a base 24, a first lower side panel 26, a second lowerside panel 28, a middle shelf 30, a first upper side panel 32, a secondupper side panel 34, a top shelf 36, a lower back panel 38, an upperback panel 40, three central supports 42 and 44, and three cable guards46. Some of the component parts of stand 12 are more clearly shown withthe various audio/video components removed, as shown in FIG. 4 (topview), FIG. 5 (front view), FIG. 6 (back view), FIG. 7 (bottom view),and FIG. 8 (right side view, which is a mirror image of the left sideview).

[0036] Viewed from the top or bottom (e.g., FIG. 7), base 24 has agenerally hexagonal shape with two 90-degree angles 48 and 50, and twopairs of parallel sides: 52 and 54, and 56 and 58. The same is true formiddle shelf 30 and top shelf 36. Such a shape allows the rear of stand12 to be neatly placed alongside a straight wall or tucked into a cornerof a room. Base 24 includes L-shaped flanges 60 (FIGS. 7 and 8) thatprovide base 24 with rigidity and provide an appreciable footprint forsetting stand 12 on a floor 62. Flanges 60 may also be provided withholes 64 (FIG. 7) for installing casters or skid pads.

[0037] To support middle shelf 30 (or an upper shelf of a two-shelfstand, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11), lower side panels 26 and 28, lowerback panel 38, and central support 44 are bolted to base 24 and middleshelf 30. The term, “bolted” refers to fastening by way of any type ofthreaded fastener (e.g., machine screw, bolt, self-tapping screw, etc.).In some embodiments, many of the component parts of stand 12 are boltedtogether using an externally threaded button head cap screw 66 and aninternally threaded acorn nut 68 (see FIG. 3).

[0038] To bolt side panels 26 and 28 in place, the side panels areformed to include a plurality of mounting flanges 70, which are providedwith a set of bolt holes that correspond to a matching set of holes inbase 24 and middle shelf 30. Side panels 26 and 28 also include edgeflanges 72 for stiffness (FIG. 5), and a plurality of openings 74 tofacilitate natural airflow by convection (FIG. 8). Such airflow may helpin cooling certain audio/video components that may be stored on stand12.

[0039] Back panel 38 is formed to include mounting flanges 76 and isbolted in place in a manner similar to that of side panels 26 and 28.Back panel 38 includes an opening 78 through which electrical cables 80and 82 may be run to perhaps items 18 and 20 (FIG. 1).

[0040] Central support 44 includes two edge flanges 84 for stiffness(FIGS. 3 and 6) and two end flanges 86 (FIGS. 3, 8 and 9) with boltholes for bolting support 44 to base 24 and middle shelf 30.

[0041] To support top shelf 36, upper side panels 32 and 34, and upperback panel 40 are bolted to middle shelf 30 and top shelf 36 in a mannersimilar to that of lower side panels 26 and 28, and lower back panel 38.This provides a plurality of acorn nuts 68 that protrude upward from topshelf 36, which helps prevent television 14 from accidentally slidingoff stand 12. A single bolt 66 (i.e., a common bolt) extending throughaligned bolt holes in middle shelf 30 and upper and lower side panelscan bolt all three of those component parts together. Upper side panels32 and 34 include a plurality of openings 88 (FIG. 8) for airflow, andupper back panel 40 includes an opening 90 for electrical cables 92 and94 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0042] Additional protection and management of electrical cables can beprovided by cable guards 46, with one each being bolted to base 24 andshelves 30 and 36. Cable guards 46 are formed as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and8, and each include two bolt holes for mounting to their respectiveshelf or base. When mounted to protrude horizontally beyond an outerperimeter 96 of base 24, middle shelf 30 or top shelf 36, each cableguard 46 provides a cable-receiving opening 98 (i.e., an upper, middleand lower one) through which cables 80, 82, 92 or 94 may extend.

[0043] To further support top shelf 36, two central supports 42 may beinstalled between top shelf 36 and middle shelf 30. Except for theirlength, supports 42 are similar to support 44. Supports 42 may be boltedin place; however, they are preferably held in position frictionally, sothe space between them can be readily adjusted to accommodate whateverspeaker or component may be placed between them. To frictionally gripsupports 42 between middle shelf 30 and top shelf 36, a resilient buttonor pad 100 (e.g, rubber, neoprene, vinyl, etc.) is disposed at oppositeends of each support 42 (FIG. 8). A high frictional force is createdwhen pad 100 is pressed against one of the shelves.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 8, middle shelf 30 extending fully between theupper and lower side panels holds middle shelf 30 solidly in place. Itwould be very difficult for a weight or some other downward force actingon middle shelf 30 to force middle shelf 30 off its supporting lowerside panels 26 and 28. In contrast, if the upper and lower side panelswere not separated by middle panel 30, but instead were a single extratall side panel extending all the way from base 24 to top shelf 36 withmiddle shelf 30 connected at some intermediate height, then middle shelf30 may be more susceptible to being dislodged by a downward force.

[0045] With television 14 resting on top shelf 36 and with speaker 16 onmiddle shelf 30, top shelf 36 is preferably made of a ferrous metal(e.g., mild steel sheet metal) to help shield television 14 from theadverse effects of a magnetic field 102 from speaker 16. Middle shelf 30is also preferably made of a ferrous metal to help shield items 18 and20 from that same magnetic field.

[0046] The upper portion of stand 12 can be removed to create a two-tierstand 104, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this case, middle shelf 30now serves as an upper shelf (i.e., a shelf above the base). Atelevision can be placed on shelf 30 and a speaker 16 (or otheraudio/video items 18 or 20) can be placed on base 24, or vice versa.

[0047] The manufacturing processes to produce the component parts ofstands 12 and 104 may vary. Currently, the parts are first laser cutfrom generally flat sheet metal to create the part's outer edges andbolt holes. Alternatively, the parts can be sheared, blanked, machinedand/or drilled with hard tooling. The initially flat parts are then fedacross one or between two sanding belts that remove burrs and scale andleaves a grain-like surface finish on the face of the parts. Next, abrake press forms the parts to create various flanges for partstiffness, mounting, and other utility. For example, shelves 30 and 36have a peripheral flange 106 (FIG. 8) that increases the shelves'rigidity. With the assistance of an electrostatic charge, a powder paintcomposition, consisting of a thermosetting resin, is then sprayed overthe surface of the parts. The powder paint is preferably clear topreserve the beauty of the metal's grain-like finish; however, thepowder paint may also be tinted or opaque. Next, the parts are heated toover 300-degrees Fahrenheit or to a temperature that hardens thethermosetting resin of the powder paint. For ease of handling andshipping, the component parts of a single stand are grouped and shippedin at least two boxes to a customer. The customer then assembles theparts to create a finished stand and installs the various audio/videoitems.

[0048] Although the invention is described with reference to a preferredembodiment, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications are well within the scope of the invention. Forexample, instead of bolting center support 44 in place, pad 100 can bereadily installed at each end of center support 44, so that support 44can be frictionally held between base 24 and shelf 30 in the same mannerthat supports 42 are held between shelves 30 and 36. Conversely,supports 42 can be bolted in place instead of using pads 100. Therefore,the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to theclaims that follow.

We claim:
 1. A television stand system, comprising: a television; acenter-channel speaker having a magnetic field; and a stand thatincludes a shelf made of a ferrous metal, wherein the shelf supports atleast one of the television and the center-channel speaker and isinterposed therebetween, whereby the shelf being made of the ferrousmetal helps shield the television from the magnetic field of thecenter-channel speaker.
 2. The television stand system of claim 1,wherein the television is above the center-channel speaker.
 3. Thetelevision stand system of claim 1, wherein the television is below thecenter-channel speaker.
 4. A television stand for supporting at leastone of as television and a center-channel speaker, comprising: a base; afirst side panel disposed on top of the base and being bolted thereto; asecond side panel disposed on top of the base and being bolted thereto;an upper shelf bolted on top of the first side panel and on top of thesecond side panel and being made of a ferrous metal able to help shielda magnetic field; and a plurality of mounting flanges extendingsubstantially perpendicular from the first side panel and the secondside panel and lying substantially parallel to the base and the uppershelf, wherein the plurality of mounting flanges facilitate bolting thefirst side panel and the second side panel to the base and the uppershelf.
 5. The television stand of claim 4, wherein the upper shelf isinterposed between the television and the center-channel speaker.
 6. Thetelevision stand of claim 4, wherein the base, the upper shelf, thefirst side panel, the second side panel, and the plurality of mountingflanges all have a substantially equivalent material thickness.
 7. Thetelevision stand of claim 4, wherein the first side panel and the secondside panel each define a plurality of openings to facilitate naturalairflow therethrough.
 8. The television stand of claim 4, furthercomprising a plurality of acorn nuts protruding upward from the uppershelf to help prevent the television from sliding off the upper shelfand to help bolt the upper shelf to the first side panel and the secondside panel.
 9. The television stand of claim 4, wherein the upper shelfdefines a hexagon with two substantially 90-degree angles and two pairsof substantially parallel sides.
 10. The television stand of claim 4,wherein the base defines a hexagon with two substantially 90-degreeangles and two pairs of substantially parallel sides.
 11. The televisionstand of claim 4, further comprising a central support that includes anupper end pressed up against the upper shelf and a lower end presseddown against the base to help support the upper shelf.
 12. Thetelevision stand of claim 11, further comprising a resilient paddisposed at each of the upper end and the lower end of the centralsupport to help hold the central support frictionally between the baseand the upper shelf.
 13. The television stand of claim 11, wherein thecentral support has a material thickness that is substantiallyequivalent to that of the base and the upper shelf.
 14. The televisionstand of claim 4, further comprising a back panel disposed on top of thebase and being bolted to the base and the upper shelf; and furthercomprising a cable guard bolted to the back panel and the base, whereinthe cable guard defines a cable-receiving opening and protrudeshorizontally beyond an outer perimeter of the base.
 15. A televisionstand for supporting a television, comprising: a base; a first lowerside panel resting on top of the base and being bolted thereto; a secondlower side panel resting on top of the base and being bolted thereto; amiddle shelf resting on top of the first lower side panel and on top ofthe second lower side panel, wherein the middle shelf is bolted to thefirst lower side panel and the second lower side panel; a first upperside panel resting on top of the middle shelf and being bolted thereto,wherein the first upper side panel is above but space apart from thefirst lower side panel; a second upper side panel resting on top of themiddle shelf and being bolted thereto, wherein the second upper sidepanel is above but spaced apart from the second lower side panel; a topshelf resting on top of the first upper side panel and on top of thesecond upper side panel wherein the top shelf is bolted to the firstupper side panel and the second upper side panel; and a plurality ofmounting flanges lying substantially parallel to the base, the middleshelf and the top shelf, wherein the plurality of mounting flangesextend outward from the first lower side panel, the second lower sidepanel, the first upper side panel and the second upper side panel,wherein the plurality of mounting flanges facilitate bolting the firstlower side panel, the second lower side panel, the first upper sidepanel and the second upper side panel to at least one of the base, themiddle shelf and the top shelf.
 16. The television stand of claim 15,wherein the base, the middle shelf, the top shelf, the first lower sidepanel, the second lower side panel, the first upper side panel, thesecond upper side panel, and the plurality of mounting flanges all havea substantially equivalent material thickness.
 17. The television standof claim 15, further comprising a common bolt that attaches both thefirst lower side panel and the first upper side panel to the middleshelf.
 18. The television stand of claim 15, wherein the first lowerside panel, the first upper side panel, the second lower side panel, andthe second lower side panel each define a plurality of openings tofacilitate natural airflow therethrough.
 19. The television stand ofclaim 15, wherein the base, the middle shelf, the top shelf, the firstlower side panel, the second lower side panel, the first upper sidepanel, and the second upper side panel are each made of metal to promoteheat dissipation.
 20. The television stand of claim 15, furthercomprising a plurality of acorn nuts protruding upward from the topshelf to help prevent the television from sliding off the top shelf andto help bolt the top shelf to the first upper side panel and the secondupper side panel.
 21. The television stand of claim 15, wherein the topshelf defines a hexagon with two substantially 90-degree angles and twopairs of substantially parallel sides.
 22. The television stand of claim15, wherein the middle shelf defines a hexagon with two substantially90-degree angles and two pairs of substantially parallel sides.
 23. Thetelevision stand of claim 15, wherein the base defines a hexagon withtwo substantially 90-degree angles and two pairs of substantiallyparallel sides.
 24. The television stand of claim 15, further comprisinga central support that includes one end pressed up against the middleshelf to help support at least one of the middle shelf and the topshelf.
 25. The television stand of claim 24, further comprising aresilient pad disposed at the one end to promote a frictional gripbetween the central support and the middle shelf.
 26. The televisionstand of claim 24, wherein the central support has a material thicknessthat is substantially equal to that of at least one, of the base, themiddle shelf, the top shelf, the first lower side panel, the secondlower side panel, the first upper side panel, and the second upper sidepanel.
 27. The television stand of claim 24, further comprising: a lowerback panel resting on top of the base and being bolted to the base andthe middle shelf; an upper back panel resting on top of the middle shelfand being bolted to the middle shelf and the top shelf; a lower cableguard bolted to the lower back panel and the base, wherein the lowercable guard defines a lower cable-receiving opening and protrudeshorizontally beyond an outer perimeter of the base; and an upper cableguard bolted to the upper back panel and the middle shelf, wherein theupper cable guard defines an upper cable-receiving opening and protrudeshorizontally beyond a second outer perimeter of the middle shelf.